Financial Assistance Resources

Financial Assistance Resources

American Liver Foundation Support Guide Š2011 American Liver Foundation. All rights reserved.

Financial Assistance Resources Rapidly rising health care costs, unforeseen occurrences in one’s personal life, and increasing responsibilities can lead to the need for financial assistance. Financial needs for individuals with liver disease can vary from medication assistance to transportation assistance to transplant assistance.

The American Liver Foundation connects individuals with liver disease to the financial assistance resources they may need. This guide contains information about national organizations that either have financial assistance programs or connect patients to other resources so they can access affordable care.

The American Liver Foundation’s mission is to facilitate, advocate, and promote education, support, and research for the prevention, treatment, and cure of liver disease.

Table of Contents I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII.

Free or Low Cost Health Care Health Insurance and Medical Expenses Assistance Prescription Assistance Transplant Assistance Meal Assistance Transportation Assistance Housing-related Assistance Other Financial Assistance

1

Free or Low Cost Health Care

The organizations listed in this section connect patients to clinics and treatment facilities that will provide them with free or low cost health care.

Health Resources and Services Administration The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is a federal agency focused on improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Find a Health Center is an online locator for federally funded health centers (http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/). Federally-funded health centers provide health services to individuals without health insurance and offer sliding scale fees based on the individual’s income.

Contact specific clinics for more information.

Health Resources and Services Administration Phone: 1-877-464-4772 Website: http://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/ Email: CallCenter@hrsa.gov

Hill-Burton Program The Hill-Burton program was created in 1947 and required obligated facilities (health care facilities including hospitals that have used federal money for facility reconstruction or modernization) to provide free or low cost health care services to people living in the facility’s area who cannot afford to pay for the services.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

There are approximately two hundred healthcare facilities nationwide that are required to provide free or low cost care to eligible individuals from the Hill-Burton program (http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/index.html).

The program only covers facility costs and does not cover private physician bills. List of facilities: http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/facilities.html Individuals whose incomes meet the HHS Poverty Guidelines: (http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/10poverty.shtml). Individuals whose incomes are more than the current Poverty Guidelines, but are less than double (or in the case of nursing homes less than triple), Hill-Burton facilities may provide services at full charge, reduced charge, or free.

Hill-Burton Program Phone: 1-800-638-0742 Website: http://www.hrsa.gov/gethealthcare/affordable/hillburton/

2

Needy Meds Needy Meds is a nonprofit organization that assists individuals who cannot afford medicine or health care costs.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Free or low cost clinic locator is an online locator to find clinics that offer free or low cost health services and offer sliding scale fees based on the individual’s income (http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf).

Contact specific clinics for more information.

Needy Meds, Inc. P.O. Box 219 Gloucester, MA 01931 Website: http://www.needymeds.org

Partnership for Prescription Assistance The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage to access the medicines they need.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Free or low cost clinic locator is an online locator to find clinics that offer free or low cost health services and offer sliding scale fees based on the individual’s income (http://www.pparx.org/en/prescription_assistance_programs/free_clinic _finder).

Contact specific clinics for more information.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Phone: 1-888-477-2669 Website: http://www.pparx.org/en

3

Health Insurance and Medical Expenses Assistance

The organizations in this section provide co-pay, health insurance premium, and medical expenses assistance to eligible patients.

Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America The Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America (BMCF) supports patients between the ages of 18 and 40 who are undergoing cancer treatment. It provides assistance for home health care services, copays, temporary housing, and other expenses for those who are temporarily unable to pay bills such as rent, insurance, and food.

Program Eligibility

Contact Information

The fund provides underinsured patients with insurance and copay assistance to help them access the treatments they need.

The fund is targeted to cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 40 who are currently undergoing treatment.

Application: http://www.bmcf.net/apply.htm. Funding cycle varies.

Please contact BMCF to learn when they have funds available.

Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America 24152 Lyons Avenue, #157 Santa Clarita, CA 91321 Phone: 1-661-310-7940 Website: http://www.bmcf.net/index.htm

Caring Voice Coalition The Caring Voice Coalition is a national nonprofit organization that is dedicated to serving the needs of individuals affected by serious, chronic disorders.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

Caring Voice Coalition’s financial assistance program provides insurance premium assistance, insurance co-payment assistance and Medicare prescription drug assistance.

Patients must have one of the diseases supported by the Caring Voice Coalition. The liver disease supported by Caring Voice Coalition is Alpha 1 Antitrypsin. Visit the following website for more eligibility information: https://secure.caringvoice.org/apply.aspx.

Caring Voice Coalition 8249 Meadowbridge Rd Mechanicsville, VA 23116 Phone: 1-888-267-1440 Website: http://www.caringvoice.org

4

Chronic Disease Fund The Chronic Disease Fund is a nonprofit organization that provides financial and medication assistance to individuals who cannot afford the medications they need.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

The Chronic Disease Fund’s copay and medication assistance program provides financial assistance to eligible individuals. Liver diseases covered by the program include hemochromatosis, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and liver cancer. For a list of diseases and medications supported by the Chronic Disease Fund, visit the following website: http://www.gooddaysfromcdf.org/patients/diseases.

Visit the following website for information about eligibility: http://www.gooddaysfromcdf.org/patients/process.

Chronic Disease Fund 6900 N. Dallas Parkway, Suite 200 Plano, TX 75024 Phone: 1-877- 968-7233 Website: http://www.cdfund.org Email: info@cdfund.org

Department of Veterans Affairs The Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) provides patient care and federal benefits to veterans and their dependents.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

VA provides a medical benefits package to all enrolled veterans (https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal). Once enrolled, in the VA’s health care system, veterans can be seen at any VA facility across the country. The VA offers copay assistance to eligible veterans. Also, veterans can request a waiver of debt, hardship determination, or an offer in compromise if unable to pay.

Must be a U.S. Veteran. Visit the following website for further eligibility information: http://www.va.gov/healtheligibility/Library/tools/Quick_Eligibility_C heck/index.asp.

Application for health benefits: https://www.1010ez.med.va.gov/sec/vha/1010ez/ U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs 810 Vermont Ave NW Washington DC 20420 Phone: 1-800-827-1000 Website: www.va.gov/

5

First Hand Foundation The First Hand Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

First Hand Foundation’s financial assistance program provides assistance in the areas of treatment (clinical procedures, medicine, therapy, prosthesis), equipment (wheelchairs, assistive technology, care devices, hearing aids, etc.), and vehicle modifications (lift ramps, transfer boards, etc.).

Patients must be 18 years or younger with a health need. Patients between the ages of 19 and 21 may be considered if they are in a childlike mental state. Visit the following website for more detailed eligibility information: https://applications.cerner.com/FirstHand/FirstHand_1a.aspx?id=28729 Financial Guidelines: https://applications.cerner.com/FirstHand/FirstHand_1a.aspx?id=28741 First Hand Foundation 800 Rockcreek Parkway Kansas City, Missouri 64117 Phone: 1-816-201-1569 or 1-816-201-7569 Website: http://www.firsthandfoundation.org Email: firsthandfoundation@cerner.com

Healthwell Foundation Healthwell Foundation is a nonprofit organization whose focus is on addressing the needs of individuals with insurance who cannot afford their copays, coinsurance, and premiums for important medical treatments.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The Healthwell Foundation provides financial assistance to eligible individuals to cover coinsurance, copays, healthcare premiums and deductibles for certain treatments. Liver disease treatments covered by the Healthwell Foundation are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and immunosuppressive treatment for solid organ transplant recipients.

Visit the following website for further eligibility information: http://www.healthwellfoundation.org/eligibility.html. Funding cycle varies. Contact the Healthwell Foundation to learn when they have funds available.

Healthwell Foundation P.O. Box 4133 Gaithersburg, MD 20878 Phone: 1-800-675-8416 Website: http://www.healthwellfoundation.org Email: info@healthwellfoundation.org

6

Patient Access Network Foundation The Patient Access Network Foundation is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing underinsured patients with copay assistance through disease-specific funds that give them access to the treatments they need.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The Patient Access Network Foundation’s copay assistance program provides underinsured patients with specific diseases with copay assistance. Liver disease treatments covered by the program are hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and solid organ transplant.

Patient must be a U.S. resident; medication must treat the disease directly. Visit the following website for further information about eligibility: https://www.panfoundation.org/fundingapplication/whoqualify.php.

Patient Access Network Foundation PO Box 221858 Charlotte, NC 28222 Phone: 1-866-316-7263 Website: https://www.panfoundation.org/index.php Email: contact@patientaccessnetwork.org

Patient Advocate Foundation Patient Advocate Foundation’s mission is to provide effective mediation and arbitration services to patients to remove obstacles to healthcare including medical debt crisis, insurance access issues and employment issues for patients with chronic, debilitating and life-threatening illnesses.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The Patient Advocate Foundation’s Copay Relief Program provides direct financial assistance to qualified patients by helping them with prescription drug copays. Hepatitis C is the only liver disease covered in the Copay Relief Program.

Visit the following website for more eligibility information: http://www.copays.org/.

Application: https://cprpatients.patientadvocate.org/. Funding cycle opens at the beginning of each month. Contact the Patient Advocate Foundation to learn when they have funds available.

Patient Advocate Foundation 421 Butler Farm Road Hampton, Virginia 23666 Phone: 1-866-512-3861 Website: http://www.copays.org

7

Patient Services, Inc. (PSI) Patient Services, Inc. (PSI) is a nonprofit organization that provides assistance to patients with chronic illnesses who are having difficulty affording premiums and copays.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

PSI offers financial assistance programs to help with the costs of insurance premiums and copays. PSI helps cover costs of insurance premiums and copays associated with Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.

Visit the following website for more information on PSI’s programs: https://www.patientservicesinc.org/how-we-help/financial-assistanceprograms.asp.

The amount of funding an individual receives is based on several factors such as income, federal poverty level, and other circumstances.

Patient Services, Inc. P.O. Box 5930 Midlothian, VA 23112 Phone: 1-800-366-7741 Website: https://www.patientservicesinc.org/how-we-help/financialassistance-programs.asp Email: uneedpsi@uneedpsi.org

Prescription Assistance

The organizations in this section provide programs that directly reduce the cost of prescription drugs or assist patients in finding programs they are eligible for.

National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) The National Organization for Rare Diseases (NORD) is a nonprofit organization that provides educational, advocacy, research, and patient-services programs for rare disease patients and their families in the U.S. Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

NORD’s Medication Assistance Program offers assistance to help cover the cost of medications. Medications for Wilson Disease and Hereditary Tyrosinemia Type I are covered by NORD’s program.

Individual must be diagnosed with one of the rare diseases that the Medication Assistance Program provides support for (http://www.rarediseases.org/programs/medication).

National Organization for Rare Disorders 55 Kenosia Avenue, PO Box 1968 Danbury, CT 06813-1968 Phone: 1-800-999-6673 Website: http://rarediseases.org Email: RN@rarediseases.org

8

Needy Meds Needy Meds is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to help people who cannot afford medicine or health care costs.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

Needy Meds has a patient assistance program database for patients to search for medications they are taking or need: http://www.needymeds.org/program_list.taf. The Needy Meds Drug Discount Card provides savings on prescription medicines and overthe-counter medications. For more information, visit the following website: http://www.needymeds.org/drugcard/index.htm.

For the Needy Meds Drug Discount Card, there are no income, insurance or residency requirements, and no fees or registration process to use the card. Eligibility varies by program.

Needy Meds P.O. Box 219 Gloucester, MA 01931 Website: http://www.needymeds.org

Partnership for Prescription Assistance The Partnership for Prescription Assistance helps qualifying patients without prescription drug coverage to access the medicines they need.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance has an online prescription assistance program finder: http://www.pparx.org/en/prescription_assistance_programs/list_of_par ticipating_programs.

Eligibility depends on the patient assistance program.

Application: https://www.pparx.org/en/gethelp.

Partnership for Prescription Assistance Phone: 1-888-477-2669 Website: http://www.pparx.org/en

State Pharmaceutical Assistance Programs Many states offer subsidies to provide pharmaceutical coverage or a discount program for prescriptions to eligible individuals.

Program Eligibility Contact Information

For information on what programs are provided in each state, visit: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14334.

Eligibility requirements vary from state to state. For more details, visit: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14334.

Contact information varies by state. For more details, visit: http://www.ncsl.org/default.aspx?tabid=14334.

9

Together Rx Access Together Rx Access assists eligible patients with obtaining discounted prescriptions.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The Together Rx Access Card provides savings on prescriptions to eligible patients in the US and Puerto Rico. For a list of medications covered, visit: http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/druglist.jsp.

Eligibility requirements can be found on the website: http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/about_eligibility.jsp.

Application: http://www.togetherrxaccess.com/Tx/jsp/home_apply.jsp# Together Rx Access PO Box 9426 Wilmington, DE 19809-9944 Phone: 1-800-444-4106 Website: http://www.togetherrxaccess.com

Transplant Assistance

Organizations listed in this section provide financial assistance for patients undergoing or planning to undergo an organ transplant, or offer assistance to help patients fundraise for transplant expenses.

American Organ Transplant Association The American Organ Transplant Association (AOTA) provides fundraising information for patients needing transplants and aftercare; assists with transportation to and from the transplant center for evaluation, surgery and aftercare; provides transplantation resources; provides access to pharmacy saving programs for patients who need medicines for their transplants; and promotes organ, marrow and tissue donation.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

AOTA's Medication Assistance Program offers support to individuals in need who do not have insurance, have limited pharmacy benefits, have a cap on their plan, or whose medications are excluded. For more information visit: http://aotaonline.org/medicationassistance.aspx.

AOTA’s transportation assistance program assists with patients’ transportation to the transplant center. For more information visit: http://aotaonline.org/transportationassistance.aspx.

Transplant patients are eligible for AOTA’s programs. Contact AOTA for more information on eligibility requirements.

American Organ Transplant Association 21175 Tomball Parkway #194 Houston, TX 77070 Phone: 1-713-344-2402 Website: http://www.aotaonline.org

10

Children’s Organ Transplant Association The Children's Organ Transplant Association (COTA) helps children and young adults who need a life-saving transplant by providing fundraising assistance and family support.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

COTA guides families through the fundraising process which includes organizing and training volunteers, planning successful events and activities, working with local media, using online resources for communications and fundraising, and finding multiple sources of funding.

Eligibility requirements include transplant patients up to 21 years of age who need a transplant due to disease complication or genetic disease. For more details on the process, visit the following website: http://www.cota.org/transplantFamilies/transplant_families.php.

Children’s Organ Transplant Association 2501 West COTA Drive Bloomington IN 47403 Phone: 1-800-366-2682 Website: http://www.cota.org Email: cota@cota.org

National Foundation for Transplants The National Foundation for Transplants is a nonprofit organization that provides fundraising assistance to transplant patients.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The National Foundation for Transplants offers fundraising assistance and administers funds to help cover transplant costs; hospital bills and deposits; doctors’ appointments; pharmacy needs; caregiver expenses; insurance premiums, temporary mortgage assistance; travel, food and lodging expenses; copays; and more.

Visit the following website for information about eligibility: http://www.transplants.org/FAQ.php#q2.

Application: http://www.transplants.org/pdfs/NFTPatientQuestionnaireandAgreem ent.pdf.

National Foundation for Transplants 5350 Poplar Ave Suite 430 Memphis, TN 38119 Phone: 1-800-489-3863 Website: http://www.transplants.org Email: info@transplants.org

11

National Living Donor Assistance Center The National Living Donor Assistance Center’s (NLDAC) mission is to provide greater access to transplantation for persons who want to donate, but cannot otherwise afford the travel and subsistence expenses associated with donation.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

NLDAC’s Living Donor Assistance Program provides financial assistance to those who want to donate an organ. Priority is given to individuals who are not otherwise able to afford the travel and subsistence expenses associated with living organ donation.

For more information on eligibility, visit the following website: http://www.livingdonorassistance.org/documents/Eligibility%20Screen ing%20Tool_6.10.pdf Application: http://www.livingdonorassistance.org/potentialdonors/applicationproc ess.aspx.

National Living Donor Assistance Center 2461 S. Clark Street, Suite 640 Arlington, VA 22202 Phone: 1-703-414-1600 Website: http://www.livingdonorassistance.org/default.aspx Email: NLDAC@livingdonorassistance.org

National Transplant Assistance Fund The National Transplant Assistance Fund (NTAF) helps families address financial hardships arising from uninsured medical expenses related to transplantation and catastrophic injury.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

NTAF provides fundraising assistance and administers funds to help cover uninsured transplant and catastrophic injury costs. Also, NTAF provides grants and other financial assistance to eligible patients.

Transplant patients and individuals who experienced catastrophic injury are eligible.

National Transplant Assistance Fund 150 N. Radnor Chester Road Suite F-120 Radnor, PA 19087 Phone: 1-800-642-8399 Website: http://www.ntafund.org

12

Meal Assistance

The organizations listed in this section provide food and meals to patients who are unable to access meals due to physical and financial hardship.

Angel Food Ministries Angel Food Ministries is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing food relief and financial support to communities in 45 states throughout the U.S. Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Through Angel Food Ministries’ food program, individuals and families can purchase $65 worth of food for $30. To search for sites, visit the following website: http://www.angelfoodministries.com/hosts.asp.

There are no qualifications, minimums, income restrictions, or applications.

Angel Food Ministries P.O. Box 128 Good Hope, GA 30641 Phone: 1-877-366-3646 Website: http://www.angelfoodministries.com Email: angelfood@angelfoodministries.com

Meals on Wheels Association of America The Meals On Wheels Association of America provides meals to seniors nationwide through programs at senior centers as well as delivered meals to the homes of seniors whose mobility is limited.

Program Eligibility Contact Information

For Meals on Wheel’s online locator of local meal assistance programs, visit the following website: http://www.mowaa.org/page.aspx?pid=253.

Senior citizens Meals on Wheels Association of America 203 S. Union Street Alexandria, VA 22314 Phone: 1-703-548-5558 Website: http://www.movaa.org Email: Mowaa@mowaa.org

13

Transportation Assistance

The organizations listed in this section provide transportation assistance or connect individuals to other transportation resources.

Air Charity Network Air Charity Network is a national charitable aviation network of seven organizations that provide air transportation assistance and resources that can provide healing and hope.

Program Eligibility

Contact Information

Air Charity Network matches people in need of air transportation with flights and other travel resources.

Patient must be in suitable condition for air travel. Visit the following website for more information: http://www.aircharitynetwork.org/AboutUs/tabid/183/Default.aspx. To request a flight, visit the following website for more information: http://www.aircharitynetwork.org/Default.aspx?tabid=163.

Air Charity Network 4620 Haygood Road, Suite 1 Virginia Beach, VA 23455 Phone: 1-877-621-7177 Website: http://ww.aircharitynetwork.org

American Cancer Society The American Cancer Society is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting individuals with cancer through education, support, advocacy, and research programs.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery program provides ground transportation to and from treatment for people who have cancer who do not have a means of transport or are unable to drive themselves.

Individuals must be cancer patients to be eligible for the program.

American Cancer Society Phone: 1-800-227-2345 Website: http://www.cancer.org/treatment/supportprogramsservices/programs/r oad-to-recovery

14

First Hand Foundation First Hand Foundation is a nonprofit organization that helps children with health-related needs when insurance and other financial resources have been exhausted.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

The First Hand Foundation provides displacement lodging, food, gas, parking and transportation for families of seriously ill children who must travel during treatment.

Eligibility requirements include the following:  The child must be 18 years of age or younger (a person 19–21 may be considered if they are in a child-like mental state)  The child must be under the care of a pediatrician  The request must be clinically relevant to the health of the child  There must be no existing insurance coverage for the requested expenses  One request per year, per child (maximum of 3 times in a lifetime) Financial guidelines: https://applications.cerner.com/FirstHand/FirstHand_1a.aspx?id=28741 Application: https://applications.cerner.com/FirstHand/FirstHand_1a.aspx?id=28742 First Hand Foundation 800 Rockcreek Parkway Kansas City, Missouri 64117 Phone: 1-816-201-1569 or 1-816-201-7569 Website: http://www.firsthandfoundation.org Email: firsthandfoundation@cerner.com

Miracle Flight for Kids Miracle Flights for Kids is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping low- income children with serious cancers and debilitating diseases to overcome financial obstacles that prevent them from accessing proper medical care and second opinions.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

Miracle Flights for Kids helps fly children who are struggling with serious cancers and debilitating diseases to specialized medical treatment centers across the U.S. Any child needing medical treatment or seeking a second opinion not available in their own home town is eligible to apply for a miracle mission. Paperwork for requesting flight: http://www.miracleflights.org/gethelp/.

Miracle Flights for Kids 2764 N. Green Valley Pkwy, #115 Green Valley, NV 89014-2120 Phone: 1-800-359-1711 Website: http://www.miracleflights.org

15

Transplant Recipient International Organization Transplant Recipient International Organization (TRIO) is an independent, nonprofit, international organization committed to improving the quality of life of transplant candidates, recipients, their families and the families of organ and tissue donors.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

The TRIO/United Airlines Travel Program is a cooperative arrangement between TRIO and the United Airlines Charity Miles Program. It provides for TRIO members and family members air transportation when travel is transplant-related.

Eligibility for use of the Travel Program is based upon financial need and need for medical assistance.

Transplant Recipients International Organization, Inc. 2100 M Street, NW, #170-353 Washington, DC 20037-1233 Phone: 1-703-746-2178 Website: http://www.trioweb.org/resources/united.html

Housing-related Assistance

The organizations listed in this section provide lodging for both patients and their families while undergoing treatment.

Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America The Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America (BMCF) supports patients between the ages of 18 and 40 who are undergoing cancer treatment. It provides assistance for home health care services, copays, temporary housing, and other expenses for those who are temporarily unable to pay bills such as rent, insurance, and food.

Program Eligibility

Contact Information

The Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund provides financial assistance for temporary housing.

The fund is targeted to cancer patients between the ages of 18 and 40 who are currently undergoing treatment.

Application: http://www.bmcf.net/apply.htm. Funding cycle varies.

Contact BMCF to learn when they have funds available.

Brenda Mehling Cancer Fund of America 24152 Lyons Avenue, #157 Santa Clarita, CA 91321 Phone: 1-661-310-7940 Website: http://www.bmcf.net/index.htm

16

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program that helps low-income households with their home energy bills. The organization particularly assists those with the lowest incomes who pay a higher proportion of household income for home energy costs.

Program Eligibility

Contact Information

LIHEAP provides bill payment assistance, energy crisis assistance, and weatherization and energy-related home repairs.

Visit the following website for more details: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/guidance/eligibility.html.

LIHEAP State Grantees: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/grantees/states.html.

LIHEAP Tribal Grantees: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/grantees/tribes.html.

LIHEAP Insular Area Grantees: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/grantees/insular.html.

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Phone: 1-866-674-6327 Website: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap/index.html Email: energy@ncat.org

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses The National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses (NAHHH) is an association of more than 150 nonprofit organizations located throughout the U.S. that provide family-centered lodging and support services to families and their loved ones who are receiving medical treatment far from their home communities.

Program Eligibility Contact Information

NAHHH has on an online lodging locator program (http://www.nahhh.org/lodging/).

Eligibility depends on the specific organization.

National Association of Hospital Hospitality Houses PO Box 1439 Gresham, OR 97030-4271 Phone: 1-503-328-9294 Website: http://www.nahhh.org Find lodging website: http://www.nahhh.org/lodging

17

Ronald McDonald House Charities Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) helps families to stay near and support the hospitalized child, helps them to afford to stay together in another city while a child undergoes treatment, and helps them to get basic medical and dental care.

Program

Eligibility

Contact Information

Ronald McDonald Houses provide a “home-away-from-home� for families so they can stay close by while their hospitalized child undergoes treatment. For a Ronald McDonald House locator, visit the following website: http://rmhc.org/who-we-are/chapter-search/.

Children, from birth to 18 (or 21, depending on the House), who are being treated at nearby hospitals and medical facilities, and their families are eligible. Maximum length of stay at a Ronald McDonald House is based on room demand and is determined on a local basis.

Ronald McDonald House Charities One Kroc Drive Oak Brook, IL 60523 Phone: 1-630-623-7048 Website: http://rmhc.org Email: info@rmhc.org

Other Financial Assistance

The organizations listed in this section either provide funds or connect individuals to resources that assist with daily living expenses.

Life Insurance Settlement Association Life Insurance Settlement Association (LISA) is an association of life settlement companies.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Selling a life insurance policy to a third party for more than its cash value and less than its face value is called a life settlement. Life settlements may be an option for eligible individuals who need cash to pay for medical or living expenses. For more information, visit the following website: http://www.thevoiceoftheindustry.com/files/content/docs/Brochures/C onsumerEducationweb.pdf Life settlement candidates are typically 65 or older and own a life insurance policy with a face amount over $100,000.

Life Insurance Settlement Association 1011 East Colonial Drive, Suite 500 Orlando, FL 32803 Phone: 1-407-894-3797 Website: www.lisassociation.org

18

Modest Needs Foundation The Modest Needs Foundation’s (MNF) is dedicated to stopping the cycle of poverty by helping hard-working, low-income households to afford short-term emergency expenses.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

MNF’s self-sufficiency grants are payments made to a creditor on behalf of an otherwise self-sufficient individual or family for a relatively small, emergency expense which the individual or family could not have anticipated or prepared for.

MNF”s newly employed grants are payments for individuals who started a new job within the last thirty days. MNF’s independent living grants are payments to a creditor for an expense on behalf of persons who are permanently unable to work but are living independently on the limited income.

Visit the following website for further details: http://www.modestneeds.org/explore/faq/requesting/#who.

Modest Needs Foundation 115 E 30th St, FL 1 New York, NY 10016 Phone: 1-212-463-7042 Website: www.modestneeds.org Email: general.questions@modestneeds.org

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging The National Association of Area Agencies on Aging's mission is to build the capacity of its members to help older persons and persons with disabilities live with dignity and choices in their homes and communities for as long as possible.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

The Eldercare Locator is a nationwide service that connects older Americans and their caregivers with information on senior services.

The Eldercare Locator connects individuals to resources such as financial assistance, health insurance, transportation, housing options, and long-term care (http://www.eldercare.gov/ELDERCARE.NET/Public/About/Index.asp x).

Must be elderly (age requirements vary by agency/service) or a caregiver to be eligible.

National Association of Area Agencies on Aging 1730 Rhode Island Ave NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: 1-800-677-1116 Website: www.n4a.org/programs/eldercare-locator/?fa=homecommunity-based-services Email: eldercarelocator@n4a.org

19

Society of St. Vincent de Paul The Society of St. Vincent de Paul offers tangible assistance to those in need on a person-toperson basis. This aid may be in the form of intervention, consultation, direct financial assistance or in-kind services.

Program

Eligibility Contact Information

Programs offered by the Society of St. Vincent de Paul include food programs, emergency financial assistance, emergency transportation, rent/mortgage assistance, or low-cost housing.

There are no requirements to receive assistance from Society of St. Vincent de Paul. They assist individuals in need.

National Council of the United States Society of Saint Vincent de Paul 58 Progress Parkway St. Louis, MO 63043 Phone: 1-314-576-3993 Website: http://www.svdpusa.org/Default.aspx Email: usacouncil@svdpusa.org

Supplemental Security Income Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal income supplement program that is funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes); it is designed to help aged, blind, and disabled people, who have little or no income; and it provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Program Eligibility Contact Information

General information: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/index.html How to apply for benefits: http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-apply-ussi.htm Who is eligible: http://www.sssa.gov/ssi/text-eligibility-ussi.htm Benefit eligibility screening tool: http://www.benefits.gov/ssa Social Security Administration Office of Public Inquiries; Windsor Park Building 6401 Security Blvd.

Baltimore, MD 21235 Find a local office: https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/FOLO/fo001.jsp Phone: 1-800-772-1213; Deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-325-0778 Website: http://www.ssa.gov/ssi/

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